# NTSB SEA99LA002: Cessna 172N, N6486J, Buhl, ID, October 12, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 12, 1998, 10:20 local (16:20 UTC) - Place: Buhl, ID - Coordinates: 42.59914, -114.83937 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5991&lon=-114.8394&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 15, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45108 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA99LA002 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45108/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA99LA002 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to follow the aircraft's recommended balked landing procedure, resulting in a stall. Factors include the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing flare, the pilot's lack of total experience, and insufficient altitude available for stall recovery. ## Analysis During the landing flare, the aircraft ballooned upward and the student pilot added power to regain control. The aircraft then drifted to the north side of the runway so the pilot elected to make a go-around. Full power was added and the flaps were raised from full (40 degrees) to zero. The stall warning horn sounded and the aircraft dropped, impacting terrain to the side of the runway. According to the Cessna 172N Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH), the aircraft's recommended balked landing procedure is to raise the flaps to 20 degrees, obtain a climb speed of 55 knots indicated airspeed (KIAS), raise flaps to 10 degrees until obstacles are cleared, and completely retract flaps at a safe altitude and 60 KIAS. The airplane's wings-level stall speed ranges from approximately 41 KIAS (47 knots calibrated airspeed [KCAS]) with full flaps to approximately 47 KIAS (53 KCAS) with flaps up. Maximum altitude loss during a stall recovery in the Cessna 172N may be as much as 180 feet. The student pilot, who received his initial solo endorsement 11 days before the accident, reported his total time as 14 hours. ## Factual narrative On October 12, 1998, approximately 1020 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N6486J, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during an attempted go-around at Buhl Municipal Airport, Buhl, Idaho. The aircraft is registered to Avcenter Inc. of Pocatello, Idaho, and was operated as a 14 CFR 91 instructional flight. The solo student pilot was uninjured in the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and there was no report of an ELT activation. The aircraft departed Twin Falls, Idaho (15 nautical miles east-southeast of Buhl) about 1 hour prior to the accident. In his report submitted to the NTSB, the pilot said that he planned to make a touch and go on runway 09 (a 3,900 by 60 foot asphalt surface runway.) During the landing flare, the aircraft ballooned upward so he added power to regain control. The aircraft then drifted to the north side of the runway so the pilot decided to make a go-around. According to the pilot, "I applied full power and took the flaps from full [40 degrees] to zero." The pilot stated that the airplane then "started to drop" and the stall warning horn sounded. The aircraft subsequently impacted terrain on the north side of the runway. The student pilot reported winds at the time as being from 080 degrees at approximately 10 knots, and indicated on his NTSB accident report that no mechanical malfunction or failure was involved in the accident. According to the Cessna 172N Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH), the aircraft's recommended balked landing procedure is to raise the flaps to 20 degrees, and obtain a climb speed of 55 KIAS. Flaps should then be raised to 10 degrees until obstacles are cleared, and completely retracted after a safe altitude and an airspeed of 60 KIAS. The aircraft's stall speed with 0 degrees bank, gross weight of 2,300 pounds and most forward center of gravity ranges from 41 knots indicated airspeed (KIAS) (47 knots calibrated airspeed [KCAS]) with full flaps, to 47 KIAS (53 KCAS) with flaps up. The POH states that maximum altitude loss during a stall recovery may be as much as 180 feet. The student pilot received his initial solo endorsement on October 1, 1998, 11 days before the accident, and reported his total time as 14 hours. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor) - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (cause) - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor) - stall - encountered, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - altitude - not available (contributing factor) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6486J](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6486J), registered now, S/N 17273877, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17273877 - Airframe hours: 10100 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Avcenter Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 17, 1998, 54 hours before - Departed: TWF, TWIN FALLS, ID - Airport: U03, Buhl Municipal, runway 9, 3,900 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 14 total, 14 in this make and model, 2 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: TWF, 15 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19981012028869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981012028869A), Oct 12, 1998: Cessna 172N, Buhl, ID, Substantial damage. Pilot lost control of the acft while attempting to land.(-23)the student pilot attempted a landing on runway 09 at Buhl, ID (U03). The wind was estimated to be… ## Other investigations on N6486J (2) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB WPR19LA092](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19LA092), Mar 1, 2019: Cessna 172 (N6486J), Melba, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The total loss of engine power due to a separated carburetor idle mixture adjustment screw and spring assembly for reasons that could not be determined. - [NTSB SEA86LA070](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA86LA070), Mar 3, 1986: Cessna 172 (N6486J), American Falls, ID, substantial damage From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.